Why is staffing still a problem in the NHS? Lack of flexibility may be the answer By Dena El-Sawy, Emma Cox, Lord Archibald Kirkwood of Kirkhope, Johann Malawana The outlook for NHS staffing is currently bleak: three quarters of medical specialties face a shortage of doctors; only half of foundation doctors started specialist training this year, and medical school applications have decreased for the third year in a row. In short: we are currently unable to recruit or retain d